Kaizer Chiefs stumbled again in their quest to catch Orlando Pirates at the top of the PSL log as the defending champions were held to a 1-1 draw by Golden Arrows at the King Zwelithini Stadium on Sunday.

Former Orlando Pirates striker Bheka Phakathi opened the scoring after 39 minutes but David Radebe cancelled his strike in the 58th minute. The result sees Chiefs join Mamelodi Sundowns on 43 points, six behind log-leaders Pirates.

The hosts started as if they themselves were playing for the league title as they attacked Chiefs ferociously but could not find a way past goalminder Rowan Fernandez who made outstanding saves throughout a fast-paced game.

Mabhuti Khanyeza constantly probed the Amakhosi defence superbly marshalled by skipper Patrick Mabedi. The Malawi international and his cohorts did not deal comfortably with Khanyeza’s speed and quick turns, and at the other end John 'Shoes' Moshoeu was effectively closed down by a compact midfield brilliantly commanded by Papi Zwothane.

The veteran midfielder hardly supplied the hard-running Radebe and Collins Mbesuma with routes to goal. The latter was ineffective as Leslie Langa and Chintu Kampamba combined well to contain the dangerous Zambian.

Another old hand for Chiefs, Thabo Mooki, took the fight to Arrows as he relentlessly worked in the middle of the park to set-up his teammates and himself. Mooki tested Phiri with fierce strikes from range but the keeper was up to the task.

Khanyeza, ever-ready upfront, set-up Arrows' goal when he pounced on a loose ball and powered past Patrick Mayo and Fabian McCarthy. He then sent in a low cross that only Phakathi anticipated and put in the back of the net to send the home support into ecstasy.

The Soweto team was stunned and with only six minutes remaining they struggled to find a way through a poised home team.

Coach Ted Dumitru replaced the unproductive Mbesuma with Jabulani Mendu 10 minutes into the second half. Moshoeu moved upfront to support Radebe while Mendu slotted into the central midfield role.

Nevertheless, Abafana Bes’thende looked to increase their lead, but with Chiefs' Mendu now pulling the strings in the middle it looked a better bet trying to maintain their advantage.

The former Moroka Swallows player threaded balls through to Radebe and Moshoeu with effective ease and Chiefs suddenly looked a different team.

however it was ‘Shoes’ that unlocked the wavering home defence when he latched onto a loose ball in the 18-yard area and let go with a well-timed shot that Phiri just got a hand on.

Radebe was quickest to the rebound and drove the ball into the back of the net with Phiri still grounded. The Durban-based Chiefs fans went wild.

Moshoeu then had a good chance to score when Mendu released him with a defence-splitting pass, and while 'Shoes' did well to beat the keeper his acute shot hit the side of the net and halted the celebrations of his technical team who were ready to proclaim a rare win over the Durbanites.

Arrows coach Khabo Zondo brought on the mercurial Lucky ‘Y2K’ Sibeko for Phakathi to add impetus to his team’s attack.

Eventually both sides had to settle (unthankfully) for a point after both began the game eagerly wanting three. Arrows just maintained their place in the top eight while the defending champs leapfrogged Sundowns only by virtue of a better goal difference.